Miss Hannah M. Popper Endowment

Educator and Philanthropist

To several generations of Brookville and other Franklin County elementary school students, she was Miss Popper. She was born May 10, 1884 in Brookville. Her father was Ignatz Albert Popper (Mr. Popper opened a men’s clothing store in 1878 and operated by his family until 1956).

Miss Pepper attended Indiana University, class of 1912. Her first teaching job was in a one-room schoolhouse in Springfield Township being paid $2.45 per day. Altogether she taught for 35 years and retired in 1948. She taught grades three through five at Brookville for most of her teaching career.

On December 2, 1981 at the age of 97, Miss Hannah Popper passed away; she was the last surviving member of the Popper family. Throughout her life, she maintained an interest in the children of the Brookville community and decided that upon her death she would make provisions for a lasting memorial to her family.

In 1981 the Hannah M. Popper Endowment was created to provide funds semi-annually to children attending Brookville Elementary and Brookville Middle School needing assistance.*